Visual display unit

ABSTRACT

A visual display unit adapted to graphically create the illusion of flow through a biological image such as the heart or nervous system. The illusion of flow is created by means of one or more rows of lamps which are adapted to be lighted in sequence along the rows. The rows are mounted behind a translucent panel on which the image is carried, and are positioned in a predetermined relationship with respect to the image so as to accurately reflect the flow pattern through the image. Thus when the flashing lamps are viewed through the image, the flow pattern will be apparent to the observer. Where more than one row of lamps is employed, means may be provided for independently actuating each row whereby different flow patterns may be illustrated.

finite States Batent Krieger, Sr.

[ Aug. 29, 1972 i541 VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT [72] Inventor: Robert G.Krieger, Sr., Burlington,

[73] Assignee: Bobbitt Laboratories, Burlington,

[22] Filed: May 25,1970

211 Appl. No.: 40,041

Piazza ..40/106.52 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 214,025 4/1924 Great Britain ..35/13Primary ExaminerI-Iarland S. Skogquist Att0rneyParrott, Bell, Seltzer,Park & Gibson [5 7] ABSTRACT A visual display unit adapted tographically create the illusion of flow through a biological image suchas the heart or nervous system. The illusion of flow is created by meansof one or more rows of lamps which are adapted to be lighted in sequencealong the rows. The rows are mounted behind a translucent panel on whichthe image is carried, and are positioned in a predetermined relationshipwith respect to the image so as to accurately reflect the flow patternthrough the image. Thus when the flashing lamps are viewed through theimage, the flow pattern will be apparent to the observer. Where morethan one row of lamps is employed, means may be provided forindependently actuating each row whereby different flow patterns may beillustrated.

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ATTORNEYS VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT The present invention relates to a displaydevice for graphically presenting information to an observer. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a visual educational displayapparatus for illustrating flow through a biological system, such as theflow of blood through the heart, or the flow of a nerve impulse throughthe nervous system.

In the teaching of complex biological processes, it is common to employmechanically adjustable simulators to graphically illustrate the processin question. Typically, such simulators comprise a number of overlappingimage bearing transparent sheets which are adapted to be sequentiallyplaced over an underlying image to indicate the various changes whichtake place during the process. While such simulators are generallysatisfactory when used on an individual student basis, they aredifficult to employ on a classroom basis since the size of the devicebecomes cumbersome and the details of the process are not readilyobservable at a distance. Also, the transparent sheets are somewhatfragile and easily torn, especially when the device is used by youngerstudents.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a visualeducational display apparatus which is suitable for use on an individualstudent basis, or on a classroom basis. In this regard, the presentinvention employs progressively flashing lamps behind an image bearingtranslucent panel to create the illusion of flow or movement in theimage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a visualdisplay apparatus wherein different flow patterns occurring during abiological process may be selectively illustrated. It is also an objectof this invention to provide a display device wherein the different flowpatterns which occur during certain biological processes may beindependently illustrated in proper sequence.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a displayapparatus for graphically illustrating the flow of blood through theheart during a complete cycle of operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areachieved in the embodiment illustrated herein by the provision of atranslucent panel having an image of the biological system in questioncarried on one surface thereof. At least one row of lamps is mountedadjacent the panel and disposed in a predetermined relationship withrespect to the biological image, and means are provided for sequentiallyilluminating the lamps along the row to thereby create the illusion offlow through the biological image when the lamps are viewed through thetranslucent panel.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated,others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view ofthe display apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the display unit of theapparatus;

FIG. 3 is a reduced front elevational view of the EKG unit;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the display unit;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the display unit taken substantially alongthe line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a circuit for the rows of lampsutilized in the display unit of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the terminal connections acrossthe plug of the display unit;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a unijunction oscillator andfour stage ring counter circuit utilized in the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a unijunction oscillator andthree stage ring counter circuit utilized in the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a display apparatus embodying the teachingsof the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 and comprises adisplay unit 12, an EKG (electrocardiogram) unit 14, and a control unit16. While the illustrated apparatus relates to the function of the humanheart, it will be appreciated that the invention could be utilized witha variety of other biological processes.

The display unit 12 includes a generally square, peripheral frame 18, anouter or front panel 20, a center panel 22, and a back panel 24. Thesethree panels are secured together by bolts 25 which are adapted to passthrough suitable apertures (not numbered) in each panel as well as theframe 18. Spacers 26 are positioned between each of the panels tomaintain a closely spaced and parallel relationship between the threepanels, and nuts 28 are provided for engaging the bolts 25 to maintainassembly of the unit.

The front panel 20 comprises a sheet of relatively thick (e.g. A. inch)normally transparent plastic or glass material, such as Plexiglas. Thepanel may be frosted by the application of a suitable dulling spray onthe inner surface to render the panel translucent and produce adiffusion of the light passing therethrough. In the illustratedembodiment, the outer surface carries an image 30 of a human heart whichmay be applied to the panel by the conventional silk screen process. Ifdesired, the image 30 may be highlighted by coloring the panel one color(e.g. red), and coloring the image 30 a difierent color (e.g. white).

Means are provided for mounting three individual rows of lamps 31, 32and 33 on the center panel 22. As will become apparent, the use of threerows is preferable in the case of a heart simulation, but it should beunderstood that in other biological systems, a greater or lesser numberof rows may be employed. Each row is disposed on the panel 22 in apredetermined relationship with respect to the image 30, and the lampsalong each row are adapted to be sequentially lighted to create theillusion of flow or movement through the image when the lamps are viewedthrough the translucent panel 20. In the present embodiment, the firstrow 31 is disposed with respect to the blood flow into and out of theheart during the resting interval of the heart cycle, the second row 32is disposed in relation to the blood flow during ventricularcontraction, and the third row 33 is disposed in relation to the bloodflow during ventricular recovery. Since the flow of blood into and outof the heart is in many directions during each of the above intervals,it will be appreciated that the three rows as defined above may compriseseveral spaced and independently flashing segments. Also, it should berecognized that the particular placement of the rows on the panel 22 asillustrated in FIG. 2 is intended to be schematic only.

selves may be NEZZH high intensity neon lamps, and the resistors 36 maybe 33,000 ohm, 7% watt.

The terminals P1, P2, and P3 from the lamps 35 lead through a seven plugconnector 38 to the driving circuits illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 andwhich are located in the control unit 16. The sequential flashing orillumination of the lamps along each row is controlled by a four stagering counter circuit illustrated in FIG. 8. The details of a ringcounter circuit are well known to those skilled in the art, and thus thecircuit will be described here only in general terms. The circuitcomprises a unijunction oscillator 40 which operates from a fourteenvolt DC source, and which serves to sequentially fire the SCRrectifiers, 41, 42, 43, 44 and thereby sequentially close the leads fromthe terminals P7, P8, P9, and Pill) (which are respectively connectedvia plug 38 to terminals A, B, C, and D). A flash frequency adjustment46 is provided to control the speed of the flashing sequence and thusthe speed of the apparent movement along the rows. Also, a start button48 leading from a 120 volt DC source is provided to initiate operationof the flashing sequence.

The circuit for sequentially actuating each row of lights is illustratedin FIG. 9. This circuit is generally similar to that described above andincludes a unijunction oscillator 50 and a three stage ring counterwhich includes the SCR rectifiers 51, 52, and 53. In this case however,the firing of the rectifiers closes the associated relays 54, S, and 56.These relays in turn close the switches 57, 58 and 59 and therebyconnect the terminals P4, P5 and P6 to a 120 volt DC source. Thus inoperation, the sequential firing of the rectifiers 51, 52, and 53operates to connect the terminals P4, P5, and P6 (and thus Pll, P2, andP3) to the 120 volt DC source. As in the above four stage circuit, asequential frequency adjustment 6%) is provided to control the speed ofthe sequence, and a start button 62 is provided to initiate operation ofthe circuit. In addition, a manual control is provided for bypassing theoscillator 56 and comprises a manual/automatic selection switch 64 and amanual advance button 65. Thus, .when the selection switch as is opened,advance is controlled by manual transfer of the switch 65 from terminal67 to terminal 68. A three pole switch '70 may also be provided which isadapted to override the counter circuit and connect all three terminalsP4, P5 and P6 concurrently to the 120 volt DC source. Thus when theswitch 7GB is closed, all three rows of lamps will be operatingconcurrently.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the EKG(electrocardiogram) unit 14 is adapted to graphically display theparticular portion of the heart cycle which is under observation. TheEKG unit 14 comprises a transparent front panel 72 which has an image 74of a typical EKG trace printed thereon. The trace is divided into threeregions, namely a first segment 75 indicating the resting interval ofthe heart, a second segment '76 indicating the ventricular excitationportion of the cycle, and a third segment 77 indicating the ventricularrecovery portion. Three lamps 78, '79,

and (FIG. 3) are mounted behind the panel 72 with one lamp beingdisposed immediately behind each of the segments. These lamps areconnected via the plug 81 to the terminals P4, P5, and P6, respectively,in the control unit 16, and thus the lamp 78 is lighted with row 31,lamp 79 is lighted with row 32, and lamp 80 is lighted with row 33. Bythis arrangement, the lamps 78, 79, and 80 indicate on the EKG trace theparticular portion of the heart cycle under observation.

A suitable design for the placement of the controls on the control unit16 is illustrated in FlG. l. The control unit 16 includes a masteron-off switch 82 and a center knob 84 which is rotatable between Manualterminal 85 and Automatic terminal 86 of the manual/automatic selectionswitch 64, and a Total terminal 87 wherein the three pole switch 70 isclosed to light all three rows of lamps. A second knob 88 is providedwhich is interconnected to the flash frequency adjustment 46 and thesequence frequency adjustment 60 and thus is designed to operate thesetwo adjustments in unison. The unit 16 also mounts a start button 89which is interconnected with the buttons 48 and 62, and the manualadvance button 65.

In operation, the master switch 82 is closed and the start button 89 isdepressed to actuate the ring counting circuits. With the knob 84 turnedto the Automatic terminal 86, the switch 64 will be closed and theterminals P4, P5, P6 will become sequentially conductive. When theterminal P4 is conductive, the row 31 will be operational, and the light78 in the EKG unit, which is also connected to terminal P4, will belighted. As indicated above, the row 31 is disposed on the panel 22 in apredetermined manner indicative of blood flow into the heart during theresting interval, and the fact that the light '78 in the EKG unit islighted will visually inform the observer of this fact.

To create the illusion of movement along the row 31, it will be notedthat the lamps in the row 31 are connected through the terminals A, B,C, and D to the terminals P7, P8, P9, and P10 of the four stage counter.Thus all the lamps connected to terminal A will be lighted during theconduction through terminal P7, all the lamps connected to terminal Bwill be lighted during conduction through P8, and so forth throughterminals C and D and back to A.

When the three stage counter terminates conduction through terminal P4,and initiates conduction through P5, the row 32 of lamps connected toterminal P2 will become operational and the lamp 79 in the EKG unit willbe lighted. This second row is disposed on the panel 22 in apredetermined manner indicative of blood flow through the heart duringventricular contraction and the individual lamps are lighted in the samemanner described above. Similarly, the row 33 connected to terminal P3will become operational and lamp 88 will be lighted when the terminal P6of the three stage ring counter is conductive. This third row isdisposed on the panel to indicate blood flow during ventricularrecovery.

While in the above mode of operation, there will be an automatic advancefrom one row of lights to the next, and the portion of the heart cycleunder observation in the display unit at a particular time will beindicated by the lighting of the appropriate lamp in the EKG unit. Ifthe knob 84 is rotated to the Manual terminal 85 to open switch 64, oneof the terminals P4,

remain lighted until the unit is manually advanced by pressing thebutton 65. Rotating the knob 84 to the Total terminal 87 closes theswitch 70 and permits concurrent operation of all three rows. ThusAutomatic" operation of the apparatus permits study of the sequentialblood flow patterns during a heart cycle, while manual operation permitsdetailed study of the flow during a particular portion of the cycle.Total operation facilitates study of the total flow pattern through theheart. The Rate adjustment 88 permits simulated operation at differentheart beat rates.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

1 claim:

1. An educational display apparatus for graphically illustrating theflow of blood through the heart during a cycle of operation thereof andcomprising,

a translucent panel,

means on said panel for defining a translucent image of the heart aplurality of lamps,

a second panel disposed closely adjacent and parallel to saidtranslucent panel,

means mounting said lamps on said second panel in at least three rowswith a first row disposed in predetermined fixed alignment behind saidimage defining means and in correlation with the pattern of blood flowduring the resting interval of the heart cycle, a second row disposed inpredetermined fixed alignment behind said image defining means and incorrelation with the pattern of blood flow during ventricularcontraction of the heart, and a third row disposed in predeterminedfixed alignment behind'said image defining means and in correlation withthe pattern of blood flow during ventricular recovery of the heart,

means for sequentially illuminating the lamps along each of said rows tocreate the illusion of movement along said rows and flow through theheart when the heart image on the translucent panel is viewed from theside opposite said second panel,

means for independently actuating said illuminating means of said rowsin an automatic sequence whereby the blood flow during the threeportions of the heart cycle may be independently and sequentiallyillustrated,

a second translucent panel,

means on said second panel for defining a translucent image of an EKGtrace,

first lightening means operatively connected with said illuminatingmeans for illuminating the resting segment of the EKG trace when saidfirst row of lamps is lighted,

second lighting means operatively connected with said illuminating meansfor illuminating the ventricular contraction segment of the EKG tracewhen said second row of lamps is lighted, and

third lighting means operatively connected with said illuminating meansfor illuminating the ventricular recovery segment of the EKG trace whensaid third row of lamps is lighted. 2. The educatlonal drsp ay apparatusas defined in claim 11, wherein the means for sequentially illuminatingthe lamps along each of said rows is adjustable to vary the rate ofsequential illumination of the lamps such that the speed of the illusionof movement along the rows may be varied, and said means forindependently actuating the illuminating means of said rows in anautomatic sequence is adjustable such that the speed of the illustratedheart cycle may be varied.

1. An educational display apparatus for graphically illustrating the flow of blood through the heart during a cycle of operation thereof and comprising, a translucent panel, means on said panel for defining a translucent image of the heart a plurality of lamps, a second panel disposed closely adjacent and parallel to said translucent panel, means mounting said lamps on said second panel in at least three rows with a first row disposed in predetermined fixed alignment behind said image defining means and in correlation with the pattern of blood flow during the resting interval of the heart cycle, a second row disposed in predetermined fixed alignment behind said image defining means and in correlation with the pattern of blood flow during ventricular contraction of the heart, and a third row disposed in predetermined fixed alignment behind said image defining means and in correlation with the pattern of blood flow during ventricular recovery of the heart, means for sequentially illuminating the lamps along each of said rows to create the illusion of movement along said rows and flow through the heart when the heart image on the translucent panel is viewed from the side opposite said second panel, means for independently actuating said illuminating means of said rows in an automatic sequence whereby the blood flow during the three portions of the heart cycle may be independently and sequentially illustrated, a second translucent panel, means on said second panel for defining a translucent image of an EKG trace, first lighting means operatively connected with said illuminating means for illuminating the resting segment of the EKG trace when said first row of lamps is lighted, second lighting means operatively connected with said illuminating means for illuminating the ventricular contraction segment of the EKG trace when said second row of lamps is lighted, and third lighting means operatively connected with said illuminating means for illuminating the ventricular recovery segment of the EKG trace when said third row of lamps is lighted.
 2. The educational display apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for sequentially illuminating the lamps along each of said rows is adjustable to vary the rate of sequential illumination of the lamps such that the speed of the illusion of movement along the rows may be varied, and said means for independently actuating the illuminating means of said rows in an automatic sequence is adjustable such that the speed of the illustrated heart cycle may be varied. 